Top trio marching on

The order at the top of the Russian Premier League standings remained the same at the weekend as each of the three teams at the summit - FC Torpedo Moskva, FC Zenit St Peterburg and FC Spartak Moskva - collected maximum points.

Key match
The key encounter, however, saw fourth-placed FC Lokomotiv Moskva take on champions PFC CSKA Moskva, now in sixth, at home. A solitary goal from Dmitri Khokhlov, who snapped up a rebound following a Dmitri Loskov free-kick, ensured the match finished 1-0 in the home side's favour.

Hat-trick hero
Spartak were in scintillating form against FC Amkar Perm, triumphing 6-1 to record the biggest win of the season so far thanks in part to midfield player Alexandr Samedov's hat-trick.
 
Penalty king
FC Krylya Sovetov Samara were reduced to ten men after just 25 minutes at home against Torpedo, who took full advantage by running away with a 5-2 win. Sergei Budylin twice held his nerve to coolly slot away penalties. Zenit, meanwhile, had Russian international Andrei Arshavin to thank for his winner in a 1-0 defeat of FC Shinnik Yaroslavl.

Perfect start
Elsewhere, FC Rostov defeated FC Rotor Volgograd 4-1 in Sergey Balakhnin’s first match in charge of the hosts, while in other games FC Dinamo Moskva drew 0-0 at home against FC Rubin Kazan, as did FC Kuban Krasnodar against visitors FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast. Finally, FC Alania Vladikavkaz earned three points in front of their own fans in a 1-0 win against FC Moskva.